Exposure and film-feeding control device for photographic cameras



Dec. 29, 1953 A. v. L. c. DEBRIE EXPOSURE AND FILM-FEEDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRRPhIC CAMERAS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1950 INVENTORY ANDRE VICTOR LEan' CLEMENT D s BY Dec. 29, 1953 A. v. L. c. DEBRIE EXPOSURE AND FILM-FEEDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1950 INVENTORI Mme VICTOR LEON gQ DEBRIE Dec. 29, 1953 Filed May 10, 1950 A. V. L. C. DEBRIE EXPOSURE AND FILM-FEEDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPOSURE AND FILM-FEEDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Andre Victor Leon Clement Debrie, Paris, France. Application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,155

Claims priority, applicationFrance May 21, 1.9.49

11.Claims. (01. 95-11) This invention relates to photographic camera exposure and film-feeding control devices and more particularly to a photographic shutter releasing and closing device driven at a constant speed by a motor and arranged to provide variable and relatively long times of exposure with great regularity, this device acting automatically after an initial release and retracting at the end of. its stroke the imageimpressed on the film by feedingv the latter by either a singleor doubleirnage interval, the device being subsequently brought to its starting position automatically, while the motor is constantly kept running and the device ready for anotheroperation.

A description of the device according to the invention is given below with reference to the accompanying-,- drawings showing diagrammaticalf y by way of cxarnpleone possible embodiment ofcthe invention.

In the drawings? Fig; l is' a diagrammatic-perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is an elevational cro s-section of a shutter combined with a reflex view-finder which is particularly suitable for operation with the control device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is another elevational cross-section showthe connecting members between the control device and the aforesaid shutter.

4 an external view of a micro-film photographs camera fitted with the various, adjusting or releasing members of the device according to the invention, which is particularly suitable for this type of photographic camera.

In the d: ierent figures of the drawings similar members are designated with the same numeral references.

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the shutter and filin-feedinz control device during the shutteropenine step.

A motor M, which may be of any suitable or known type, drives at a constant speed a shaft 4 fast with a worm 2 and a worm pinion 3 in constant" meshing engagement with a helical wheel t which drives a shaft'e journaled in fixed portionscr members, such as 6, of the camera or structure.

This shaft is mounted for sliding motion the latter is secured against amalmotion in relation to the camera structure 2 the shaft of a pair of film-engaging sprocketwheels !2 which will feed the film 13 when they are actuated by the Geneva movement.

Shaft 5 is surrounded by a helical spring M which continuously urges, on the one hand, driving pin 8 out from slots 9 of star-wheel l which in this position is held against motion by its lock ng drum 7 and, on the other hand, the end oi shaft 5 out from wheel on its side opposite to i. This end of s aft 5 is provided with a cam face iii which, as-will be-macle clear presently, is adapted to move the assembly consisting of shaft 5, drum 1 and pin 8 in the opposite axial direction while compressing spring hi The extension of the axis of shaft 5 and wheel 4 meet the axis Q5 of shaft 2'! provided at both ends-with journals 8, I9 rotating in fixed bearin' s such as 2!. The axis of rotation of shaft H is parallel with shaft I Shaft 11 is prismatic and may have a square or other suitable cross-section providing a guiding surface between its journals l and i9.

Shaft i! has fixed coax ally thereon at one end a pinion 22 meshina with atoothed rack cooperating with the push rod 24 of a shutter or any other motion-transmitting device equivalent thereto. This rod 24- is constantly urged in a resi ient manner against rack 23.

Rack 23 may be urged in the opposite side by another push rod 25 actuated by the operator. for instance by means of a flexible-wire shutter relea e controlled by depressing a push-button 27. A sector 28 and a cam member 29 fast with each other are mounted on shaft i! for sliding axial mot ontherealong and rotationtherewith.

A spiral spring 3i wound around shaft ll bears at one end against bearing 2i and at the other end against earn member 29 so as to. urge them away from each other.

Besides, the ends 32 and 33 oi spring 35 are fast with members 2 i, and 29, respectively.

Thus, as. thespring is continuously and suitably tensionedabcut its axis before its ends are made fast with. members, 2.! and 255, it follows that sector 2: cam member 23 and pinion 22 are constantly urged for anti-cloclnvise rotation, i. e. in th direction shown by the rrow The axial displacement of assembly 23, 23% in the direction of journal l9, due to the resilient action of the compressed spring 35 when it is released, is. restricted by the abutmentv of memher 23 against, a iorlsinember The for '5 is carriedby ainember. 3.6. fixed for slidin onthe-strncturcor casing itlFig. 4) oi the ho.- tographic camera. for. instance through the inte mediary of a pair of screws 31, 38 provided with a cylindrical bearing portion fitting slidably in a parallel-edged slot 39 of member 36.

The movements of member 36 and abutment in a direction parallel with the axis it may be transmitted through a toothed rack i! meshing with a pinion d2 actuated by an external control button is (Fi 4) for ad usting the time of ex po ure throu h a shaft 44.

The circular portion d5 of sector 23 carries screw-threads of same p tch as worm 2 so as to mesh therewith when the sector is moved angularlv.

At the end o po ite to t e circular s re threaded port on l? se tor 28 has a re l ently retracta le prin -loaded n 48 guided in a chamber 4'? formed in sector 28 and containing a spring 48.

In inoperative cond tion se tor 26 is urged a ain t abutment 35 b sprin 3!, its screwthreaded portion 45 is disenga ed from worm 2, and spr n -p n .43 is released under a fixed abutment slide illustrated at at and having a guide face 5! parallel with axis I5. Spr ng p n id is adapted to bear laterally a ainst this guide-face 5i when the circular portion d5 of the sector is me hing with worm 2.

The fixed slide d9 is sup orted in any suitable manner (not shown) by the structure iii of the ap aratus.

When sector 28 meshes with worm 2 through its scre threa ied portion 135 it s driven to th leer, as seen in Fig. 1, to ether with me ber 2!? and, owing to the comb ned action of the rotat ng worm 2 in the d rect on o t e. a row 5? and of the toroue react n of s'orin' 3i in the direction of ar ows 3d, spring-pin 4'6 is pressed against face. 5!.

When prin -p n :36 mo es e on the end fa e 5 of slide 59 it r n to h l ft. a n n Fi 1. owin to the e l ent t 'me rea t n. oi s ring 35 where y h ft I1 and therefore p n on 22 are moved an la lv n the d rect on ni ar ow 3Q. Th s move ent h ve is rgefivini'fi'i hv the presence of another slide 54 en a ed y p n M; and m able in a dire t n p allel ith axi l6 alon the structure or frame IQ of the pparatus by suitable eans n t ho n. e, di pla ements of member 54 may be transmitted thereto for example throu h a rack-and-pin on de ice 5. 5%. Pinion 55 is actuated by a button 58 (Fig. 4) thro gh a common shaft 5'! journaled in the wall of the camera.

This button 58 is a means of modifying the size and length of the retracted portion of the film, as will be made clear presently.

Sector 2a is kept in me hing engagement with worm 2 until spring pin 55 escapes from the end 55 of the abutment-slide 5d and meanwhile the sector is therefore rotatably driven by the worm driven in turn by the motor M, whereby spring 35 is compressed by the rotating sector.

The positions of member E i and end face 55 thereof are defined by two abutments corresponding to two diiferent image sizes on the film. Thus, for example, when a 35 mm. film is used the conventional sizes 24 x 18 mm. and 24 x 36 mm. are selected by position ng the size-control button 58 (Fig. li in accordance with the indications of an index 65.

A combination of the above-described device with a micro-film photographic camera is described below as a preferred embodiment of the invention. The mechanism as described is fitted in the casing or structure it of the camera which is provided with its lens having the usual focusing and shutter-adiusting devices. This lens is surrounded by a collar member as for fixing, for instance by screwing, the camera on a supporting device above the documents or objects to be reproduced. Preferably, the motor M for driving shaft 5 is fixed on the back wall of the camera.

A shutter of a type particularly suitable for actuation by the movements of rack 23 and pushrod 2% may be constructed as follows (Figs. 2 and 3) A chamber es, acting as a camera obscure in which the shutter is moved. provided with a centering window or frame 55 having a depth variable through known means from 18 to 38 the film shown diagrammatically as being moved, guided and pressed before this frame in the conventional manner.

A window fitted with a focusing screen 55, for example of ground glass, is provided in the front side of the structure id of the apparatus.

The shutter consists of a cylinder portion 51 connected through a portion '58 parallel with a radial plane to a shaft 59 which coincides with the fulcrum of the curved surface 61, this portion 68 being parallel with the focusing screen 66 and at right angles with the plane of film 13.

The external face of portion 68 carries a plane mirror '5! and may be positioned to prevent any light from penetrating into chamber Ell through the ground glass plate 63 when the external face thereof is urged in the position of Fig. 2 against the tubular abutment l2 behind plate 65.

In this position an aperture 13 formed in the cylindric portion 6? uncovers the lens 62.

Moreover, light is prevented from entering the camera by means of a screening device i l fixed around the aperture 65 and having in its inner wall '55 a passage '56 for the light beam, this pas=- sage being closed by member t8 when the latter is lifted with its mirror H to the position shown in dotted lines in 7!, i. e. inclined by 45 in rela tion to the optical axis.

By suitably dimensioning the different mernhers involved, in this position we have OP=PN wherein P=the point in which the optical axis intersects H, and

O, N= he points of intersection of the optical axis with the film l3, and of the refiexion at 90 of this optical axis with the focusing screen 65, respectively.

Light-tightness is further obtained by the provision of a cylindric screen ll positioned between shutter iii and lens 62, and having a passage 18 for the light beam, and also side screens (not shown).

In inoperative conditions the member 63 and the cylindric shutter and mirror assembly are abutted in their upper position against the wall 75 by means of a traction spring 79 actuating a lever 35 pivotally mounted at 82 on the casing so as to drive a pin 84 carried by a member 85 fast with member 68 endwise of shaft 69 into a slot 83. In this position lever B! is urged against stop member 86 whereby the shutter is closed and the image transmitted through the lens formed on the ground glass 66 where it is conveniently observed both for centering and focuslug purposes.

Fig. 3 illustrates the conditional the mechanism when the' shutter is open.

To: open the shutter thelever' 81 is rocked anticlockwise hyactuating the'push-rocl 24 which presses an arm 810i lever 81 until the latter abuts against another" stop member 88 carried by the casing or'side'wall'of the camera.

As shown in the figure, lever 8| is lowered against the-resiliency of spring 79 and mirror I! closes the inner end' of the tubular screen 12 while aperture 13' surrounds now the light beam which is thus allowed. to impress the film [3.

Furthermore, the apparatus is provided with a. feeding magazine 8.! of known type fixed for example on one side'9 tor the camera.

The front surface of'the apparatus is fitted with. the two-way switching button 53 forselecting the desired image size, the:view=fincler'foousing. screen. of ground. glass, the" milled knob 43 for adiusting'the time of exposure; an image counter. 92 and a button 93 for opening the casingv iii of'the camera in order to position the film i aahove the. image aperture and cause it to mesh with. the Geneva movement sprocket-wheels 12.

According to the conventional practice, a pair of rollers are provided for introducing the film in a light-t ght manner into a compartment 93 which may be openedand contains the winding spool 93 the shaft of which is driven at the same time as the filmis fed, in the known manner. A knob 98 is fitted. on the front side of this chamber for hand-winding. purposes.

This winding spool is. preferably wound in a light-tight receiving box showndiagrammatically at 99 inv dotted lines and disclosed. in my patent application, Serial No. 161,154, filed May 10, 1950, for Improvements in film-receiving magazinehox, now Patent No. 2,644,645,. issued July 7,. 3.953.

The arrangement further comprises a locking device Hit controlled from the outside for closing the magazine-box 99 so as to make it possible to extract it in broad daylight from compartment 95.

In this'ca'se the assembly described operates The operator, by actuating knob i3 and therefore pinion. 42 and rack 45, moves the assembly consisting of fork and sector 23 in order to adjust the distance D along which spring pin #6 will be permitted to engage. face 5'! of the fixed slide 49.

This distance corresponds to welhdefined time T of transmission of motion by Worm 2.

Similarly, the operator by means oi'the two-way switehir- ..tton the distance d between faces 53 and after which the springpressed pin it will be released from the adjustable slide 54.

Then, when thepush-hutton 27 of ,he'shutterreieaseii 'i is depressed, rack'zt moved; to the left (Fig. i) and carries along pusher 2%,.thus closing the view-finder S6 and allowing the light beam to how towarithe film it. The exposure begins.

At the-same time, this riisplacement of rack 23 rotates pinion 2'2, shaft 57 and sector 28 in a clockwise direction, i. e. opposite to that shown by the arrows The spring-pressed pin 46 trips out in front oi slide 5!, spring iii is wound by this torsional movement, screw-tifireads 45 are cause-cl to mesh with worm 2 and the assem this moved. back sufficiently to close the shutter The exposure is hy'th ended.

duration of the exposes ance D acl i able throueh any continuous tie time of exposure may be obtain practically pre-cleterm ii This first angular movement im her 29 in contact with cane.

ofshafti.

When. cam face 5 cheat" and. provided. that both 13.1.. are correctly the (:i been moved axially and rotates w siot on star-wheel i i, rotates the latter by 99 so that sprocket vheels if; or the i g device wiif. fees. him i by one interval. Manning that the distance d is adjusted at its .nruin value. soringpn wi travel along his distance v. 'hin a shorter periot:

h red for one revolution of c responding to another operat n of movement, as pin his is this other operation occurs, sector hack the direction of the arrow enca ed from worm toseti er ith her is. owing to the" torque 3!. until sector 28 engae'es f the device reeriv for The film fee-r1 corresponrii tion or the Geneva movement 5 i feeding device i2 may be. for 1? Q's-mm. si e If the return of rod l enpot ev o eration. of revolu- 55? had been adjusted to i va ie. cam face 95 would. have another e cam mere-her kept opere ite position the'en agement of n on whereby another 1.3 mm. feed wou ii have been nparteti to the film by sprocket wheels .12. the resul ng feed woulo. 24% X 36 size image.

Throueh known means (not sho n placement of rack acco or necessary enlargement lengthwise "l accordance with the size, illiiCaG-Sd by the of iinoo of the view-taici e With the above-ciesoi.. ecl mechanism it is operating means for holding the same in said shutter opening position for a predetermined length of time; filni feeding means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to be actuated thereby; and adiusting means operatively connected uo said releasable holding means to enable the latter to control said film feeding means so as to feed apredcterniined length of film.

2. In a camera, combination, shutter operating means movable between shutter opening and shutter closing positions; releasable holding means operatively connected to said shutter operating means for holding the same in said shutter opening position for a predetermined length of time, said releasable holding means comprising a stationary guide member, a movably mounted element located adjacent to said guide member, spring means connected to said movably mounted element for urging the came into engagement with said guide member, moving means connected to said movably mounted ele ment for moving the same along said guide member, and adjust-ably mounted stop means oneratively connected to said releasable holding means for controlling the duration of contact between said movably mounted element and said guide member; film feeding operatively connected to said releasable holding means to be actuated thereby; and adjusting means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to enable the latter to control said film feeding means so as to feed a predetermined length of film.

3. In a camera, in combination, shutter operating means movable between shutter opening and shutter closing positions; releasable holding means operatively connected to said shutter operating means for holding the same in said shutter opening position for a predetermined length of time; film feeding means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to be actuated thereby, said film feedin means comprising a first rotatably mounted shaft, a second rotatably mounted shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft and being mounted for movement along its axis, disengageable Geneva drive means mounted on said first and second shafts, said Geneva drive means being engaged when said second shaft is moved in one direction along its axis and being disengaged when said second shaft is moved a direction onposite to said one direction along its axis, resilient means operatively connected to said second shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction, and cam means operatively connected to said releasable holding means for moving said second shaft in said one direction so as to engage said Geneva drive means to feed the film; and adjusting means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to enable the latter to control said film feeding means so as to feed a predetermined length of film.

4. In a camera, in combination, shutter operating means movable between shutter opening and shutter closing positions; releasable holding means operatively connected to said shutter operating means for holding the same in said shutter opening position for a predetermined length of time, said releasable holding means comprising a stationary guide member, a movably mounted element located adjacent to said guide member, spring means connected to said movably mounted element for urging the same into engagement with said guide element, moving means connected to said movably mounted element for moving the same along said guide element, and adjustably mounted stop means operatively connected to said releasable holding means for controlling the duration of contact between said movably mounted element and said guide member; film feeding means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to be actuated thereby, said film feeding means comprising a first rotatably mounted shaft, a second rotatably mounted shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft and being mounted for movement along its axis, disengageable Geneva drive means mounted on said first and second shafts, said Geneva drive means being engaged when said second shaft is moved in one direction along its axis and being disengaged when said second shaft is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction along its axis, resilient means operatively connected to said second shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction, and cam means operatively connected to said releasable holding means for moving said second shaft in said one direction so as to engage said Geneva drive means to feed the film; and adjusting means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to enable the latter to control said film feeding means so as to feed a predetermined length of film.

5. In a camera, in combination, shutter operating means movable between shutter opening and shutter closing positions; releasable holding means operatively connected to said shutter operating means for holding the same in said shutter opening position for a predetermined length of time, said releasable holding means comprising a stationary guide member, a movably mounted element located ad acent to said guide member, spring means connected to said movably mornted element for urging the same into engagement with said guide element, moving means connected to said movably mounted element for moving the same along said guide element, and. adjustably mounted stop means operatively connected to said releasable holding means for controlling the duration of contact between said movably mounted element and said guide member; film feeding means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to be actuated thereby, said film feeding means comprising a first rotatably mounted shaft, a second rotatably mounted shaft spaced from and parallel to said first shaft and being mounted for movement along its axis, disengageable Geneva drive means mounted on said first and second shafts, said Geneva drive means being engaged when said second shaft is moved in one direction along its axis and being disengaged when said second shaft is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction along its axis, resilient means operatively connected to said second shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction, and cam means operatively connected to said releasable holding means for moving said second shaft in said one direction so as to engage said Geneva drive means to feed the film; and adiustlng means operatively connected to said releasable holding means to enable the latter to control said film feeding means so as to feed a predetermined length of film, said adiusting means comprising a second guide member located adjacent to said firstmentioned guide member and being movably mounted so as to have a predetermined length thereof extending beyond said first-mentioned guide member, said spring means urging said movably mounted element into engagement with said. second guide member after said movably mounted element moves beyondsaid firstemem tioned guide member.

6. In a camera. in combination, a shutter operating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a rotatably mounted shaft operatively connected to said shutter operating means for moving the same between said twopositions, said shaft being rotatable in one direction to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position and being rotatable in a direction opposite to said one direction for moving said shutter opening means into said shutter closing position; spring means cperatively connected to. said shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction .01"

rotation; stationary guide means located adja" cent to said shaft and having a guide surface extending in a direction parallel to said shaft; pin means mounted on said shaft only for sliding movement along the length thereof, said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said guide surface; moving means operatively connected to said pin means for moving the same at a given rate of speed along said shaft and guide surface; and adjustment means located,

adjacent to said pin means for causing the latter to engage said guide surface at apredetermined point along the length thereof so as to thereby control the duration of contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said shaft in said opposite direction so as to thereby cause said shutter operating mem ber to move into said shutter closing position when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface.

7. In a camera, in combination, a shutter operating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a. rotatably mounted shaft operatively connected to said shutter operating means for moving the same between said two positions, said shaft being rotatable in one direction to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening'position and being rotatable in a direction opposite to said one direction for moving said shutter opening means into said shutter closing position; spring means operatively connected to said shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction of rotation; stationary guide means located adjacent to said shaft and having aguide surface extending in a direction parallel to said shaft; "pin means mounted on said shaft only for sliding movement along the length thereof, said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said guide surface; moving-means-operatively connected to said pin means for moving the same at a given rate of speed along said shaft and guide surface; and adjustment meanslocated adjacent to said pin means for causing the latter to engage said guide surface at a predetermined point along the length thereof so as to thereby control the duration of contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said shaft in said opposite direction so as to thereby'cause said shutter operating member to move into said shutter closing position when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface; and manually operable means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the same in said one direction so as to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position, said rotation of said shaft in said one direction by said manually operable means tensioning said spring means so as to urge said pin means against said guide surface and so as to urge :said shaftin sa d opposite direction of rotation,

8. fin a camera, in combination, a shutter op erating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a rotatably mounted shait operatively connected to said shutter operating means for moving the same between said two positions, said shaft being rotatable in one direction to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position and being rotatable in a uireotlon opposite to said one direction for moving said shutter opening means into said shutter ciosing position; spring means operatively connected to said snai't Ior urging the same in said opposite direction of rotation; stationary guide means located aulacent to said smart and having a guide surrace exten ing in a direction paraiiel to said shaft; pmmeans mounted on Salu snail; oniy 01 Sllulllg movement along the length tnereoi, said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said guide suriace; moving means operatively connected to said pin means ior moving the same at a given rate 0; speed along said smart and guide suriace; and aLL uSbmUn-l] means ioeaten adjacent to said pm means 101 causing the latter to en age said guide suriace at a pl'fiui!" termineupoint along the length thereof so as to there y UUIlbL'Ul .tne uuIaDlQl-l or contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said shalt in said opposite LUI'BC" tion so as to there y cause said shutter operating nlcullleg to move .LnuU said shutter closing position wnensaiu pin means moves beyond said guide surlace, said ad ustment means comprising an abutment member located at least parnany about said snait and mounted ior movement in a n1- reotlon parallel to the axis or said snart, and operating means operatlvely connected to said abutment member ior locating the same at desired position along said shalt, said abutment member bemg located between said share and said guioesurrace and said spring means urging said pm means toward saio. abutment member, wnereoy tne iocation .of said abutment member along saidsnart causes said pin means to engage said guide surIace at a desired point.

9. in a camera, 1n comolnation, a shutter operating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a rotataoly mounted shalt operativeiy connected to said shutter operatingimeans for moving the same betweensaiu two positions, said shalt being rotatable 111 one direction tomove said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position and belngrotatable in a direction opposite to said one directlonior moving salo shutter operating means into said shutter closing position; spring means operatively connecte to said shaft for urging the same insaid opposite direction of rotation; sta-- tionary guide means located adjacent to said shaft and having a guide surface extending in a directioin parallel .to said shaft; pin means mounted onsaidshait onlyfor sliding movement along the length thereof, spring mean urging said pin means into engagement with said guide surface; moving means operatively connected to said pin means for moving the same at a given rate of speed along said shaft and guide surface; an adjustment means located adjacent to said pin means for causing the latter to engage said guide surface at a predetermined point along the length thereof so as to thereby control the duration of contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said 1 i shaft in said opposite direction so as to thereby cause said shutter operating member to move into said shutter closing position when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface, said adjustment means comprising an abutment member located at least partially about said shaft and mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft, and operating means operatively connected to said abutment member for locating the same at a desired position along said shaft, said abutment member being located between said shaft and said guide surface and said spring means urging said pin means toward said abutment member, whereby the location of said abutment member along said shaft causes said pin means to engage said guide surface at a desired point; and manually operable means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the same in said one direction so as to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position, said rotation of said shaft in said one direction by said manually operable means tensioning said spring means so as to urge said pin means against said guide surface and so as to urge said shaft in said opposite direction of rotation.

.10. In a camera, in combination, a shutter operating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a retatably mounted shaft operatively connected to said shutter operating means for moving the same between said two positions, said shaft being rotatable in one direction to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position and being rotatable in a direction opposite to said one direction for moving said shutter operating means into said shutter closing position; spring means operatively connected to said shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction of rotation; stationary guide means located adjacent to said shaft and having a guide surface extending in a direction parallel to said shaft; pin means mounted on said shaft only for sliding movement along the length thereof, said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said guide surface; moving means operatively connected to said pin means for moving the same at a given rate of speed along said shaft and guide surface; adjustment means located adjacent to said pin means for causing the latter to engage said guide surface at a predetermined point along the length thereof so as to thereby control the duration of contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said shaft in said opposite direction so as to thereby cause said shutter operating member to move into said shutter closing position when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface; film driving means located adjacent to said shaft; and control means operatively connected to said stationary guide means and pin means for controlling the length of film driven by said film driving means.

11. In a camera, in combination, a shutter operating means movable between a shutter opening position and a shutter closing position; a rotatably mounted shaft operatively connected to said shutter operating means for moving the same between said two positions, said shaft being rotatable in one direction to move said shutter operating means into said shutter opening position and being rotatable in a direction opposite to said one direction for moving said shutter operating means into said shutter closing position; spring means operatively connected to said shaft for urging the same in said opposite direction of rotation; stationary guide means located adjacent to said shaft and having a guide surface extending in a direction parallel to said shaft; pin means mounted on said shaft only for sliding movement along the length thereof, said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said guide surface; moving means operatively connected to said pin means for moving the same at a given rate of speed along said shaft and guide surface; adjustment means located adjacent to said pin means for causing the latter to engage said guide surface at a predetermined point along the length thereof so as to thereby control the duration of contact between said guide surface and pin means, said spring means rotating said shaft in said opposite direction so as to thereby cause said shutter operating member to move into said shutter closing position when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface; film driving means located adjacent to said shaft; and control means operatively connected to said stationary guide means and pin means for controlling the length of 111m driven by said film driving means, said control means comprising an elongated member mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the length of said shaft and being located adjacent to said guide means and extending beyond an end thereof, setting means operatively connected to said elongated member for 10-- cating a predetermined length thereof beyond said end of said guide means, and cam means connected to said pin means for operating said film drive means, said spring means moving said cam means into engagement with the film drive means so as to set the latter into operation and said spring means urging said pin means into engagement with said elongated member when said pin means moves beyond said guide surface, said moving means moving said pin means along said elongated member at said given rate of speed so as to maintain said cam means in engagement with said film drive means during the time that said pin means is in engagement with said elongated member.

ANDRE VICTOR, LEON CLEMENT DEBBIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,166,120 Fox Dec. 28, 1915 1,388,870 Lipp Aug. 30, 1921 2,048,439 Fairchild July 21, 1936v 2,408,811 Resk Oct. 8, 1946 2,496,329 Breichle et al Feb. 7, 1950 

